Rattler/Firebird Home Page

Welcome to the snakepit! This is the home page of the Rattlers and Firebirds
of Company A/501st Aviation Battalion, 71st Assault Helicopter Company, 151st
Transportation Detachment, and the 94th Signal Detachment. We served in Vietnam
from 1964 until 1971, moving from our original base at Bien Hoa to Chu Lai
in 1967.

Firebirds attacking

Rattler & Firebird Names

The radio call signs “Rattler” and “Firebird” were
used by our aircraft during our service in Vietnam. “Rattler” was
used by our UH-1D & H helicopters (known as "slicks") that carried troops, supplies, ammunition,
performed command and control, combat assault, medical evacuation and insertion/extraction
missions, as well as many others. The call sign “Firebird” was
used by our UH-1B, C & M gunships, some of the most feared gunships in
all of Vietnam. You can find more about the call signs and where they came
from on our history page.

The Association

The Rattler/Firebird Association has no political agenda. We simply provide
a means to stay in touch with those who share our experiences and to honor the memory of those we have lost. If you served
with us, or with anyone else during the Vietnam conflict and nobody has told
you this already, we'd like take this opportunity to say, “Welcome Home!”

Director's Corner

February 5th IMPORTANT: If your hotel
confirmation shows a number to call for the airport shuttle,
it is incorrect. There IS NO AIRPORT SHUTTLE to our
hotel!...

Call 615-259-4343 for Reunion hotel reservations. Be sure to
say you want in-house reservations. Reunion dates are from
May 30th through June 2nd, 2018. December 6th....The
newsletter was mailed this morning. Please make reunion
hotel reservations ASAP. rs

The Association has a new address. It is:
1492 VZ County Road 2701, Mabank, TX 75147.....